Yahoo’s not the only company wishing it had a fission-powered DeLorean (a la Nike this week) to facilitate a return to better times.

It wasn’t long ago – all right, maybe an eon in the cellphone era – when more pockets were stuffed with Nokia phones than ears plugged with trendy white headphones. Those iPod buds were annoying if you weren’t an early adopter, but at least they didn’t disturb you in a movie theater, unlike that Nokia earworm (known as the Nokia Tune) that burrowed into my brain to keep company with the latest derivative party anthem by the Black Eyed Peas.

Think you can come up with a new Nokia Tune? Now's your chance!Continue reading...

Hewlett-Packard is touting its audio brand partners in its HP consumer notebooks (Dolby, SRS and the Chrysler-favored Beats by Dr. Dre) in a quirky, retro new video that's one part Loony Toons, one part goofy 1950's educational film, including white-jacketed scientists, a pitch-perfect voiceover and a winking nod to the future — check it out below. Continue reading...

Twee hipster sensation ‪Pomplamoose‬ is jumping the division of commerce and art again as it covers the theme song from video game Angry Birds.

Of course, the band has become more commercial, and brand-friendly — even as it winks at that friendliness.Continue reading...

No more edgy comedians for Aflac.

After firing Gilbert Gottfried for tasteless tweets about the recent disaster in Japan and launching a nationwide search, Aflac today announced the new voice of its duck mascot — Dan McKeague, a 36-year-old classic rock radio station sales manager from Minneapolis, MN, who beat 12,500 contenders for the role.

His first Aflac spot (below) will debut, appropriately, during tonight's premiere of The Voice — a competition to find America's next great singer — on NBC.Continue reading...

The value of a sound…sound strategy is still a dim second in advertising briefs but smarter brands are catching on. Audi achieved sonic branding two years ago, with its sport for the A5 sportback —a steady, pumping heartbeat, breath and a piano as seen (and heard) above.

Last month, in an industry first, Unilever brand managers for its Comfort fabric conditioner hit MIDEM, the world's largest music industry trade fair, with an unusual proposition.Continue reading...